WEST SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, 9 May 1924, Page 5

WEST SCHOOL.

GRANT ASKED FOR. FROM TRUST LANDS TRUST. A deputation comprising Messrs F. W. Pointon, A. Robertson, T. Leete, H. S. Loudon, L. Clarke, and A. Donald waited on tho Masterton Trust Lands Trust last evening and asked for a grant of £l5O. Mr Pointon said the school now had a roll number of over 400. They were up against is financially owing to the great expenditure on improvements, in which they had slightly overreached themselves. The Education Board agreed that the capitation allowance was not adequate. The residents of the district had been remarkably free in giving assistance. As a result of the baths 70 per cent of the children could, swim, and the High School pupils had the use of the baths on certain days. There were excellent tennis courts and football grounds, and it was now proposed to have cricket grounds, bicycle sheds, headmasters’ room, rest room and shrubberies. A concrete bridge over the creek was necessary and improvements around the baths would cost about £250. They also wanted a school library. Members of the Trust here interposed that the central schools library was available and was subsidised by the Trust. Mr Pointon thought that owing to distance they would be better served by their own library. They were £136 in debt, further accounts to come in. Mr Donald explained that the library requited was a reference one for the use of the. teachers, not a general library. He hoped that the Trust would act on the principle that “those who do most get most.”

Mr Clarke supported the previous speakers with extracts from the school’s annual report. Mr C. E. Daniell congratulated the committee on work well done. It was decided to refer the matter to the finance committee, the chair* man (Mr A. Rippon) remarking that every consideration would be given.